Plastic Surgery Blog

Rhinoplasty isn't a surgery you decide to have on a whim. Like any other form of plastic surgery, it takes planning and patience. One of the most important steps to take before you have rhinoplasty is scheduling a consultation with a board certified facial plastic surgeon who specializes in the procedure. An experienced surgeon will let you know what you should do to get ready for the surgery and whether it's the ideal procedure for you or not. While you can't replace a one-on-one consultation with a surgeon, the checklist below can give you a general idea of what you can expect to happen.

Most plastic surgeons will tell you that rhinoplasty is one of the most challenging procedures. The nose is a small but complicated part of the body. When reshaping it, facial plastic surgeons have to consider not only the way it will look afterwards, but also how the surgery will affect its functioning.

Since rhinoplasty is so complex, it's not a surgery to rush into or to decide on at a moment's notice. The surgery will change your life in several ways, not just in terms of your appearance. Before you elect to have it, consider the following questions and their answers.

For transgender patients making the transition from male to female (MTF) or from female to male (FTM), there are a variety of very important facial procedures to consider that one has to possibly undergo. Secondary sex characteristics are readily distinguishable between males and females regarding the face, and those differences have to be altered in order to present a natural and convincing appearance. Making that initial decision is a big step so seeking a specialist who understands the special nuances of this process is critical to achieving your ideal goals.

Surgeon Qualifications

There are several important questions to ask when selecting your surgeon for a blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, procedure. The first and most critical question to ask is whether the plastic surgeon is board certified by the American Board of Facial and Plastic Reconstructive Surgery. For safety, patients should only seek a board certified plastic surgeon to perform their surgical procedures. Also inquire on the surgeon’s references and experiences with blepharoplasty and facial plastic surgery. Does the surgeon specialize in blepharoplasty only or perform other procedures as well? In addition, you may want to ask if the doctor has any before and after photos of previous patients so you can see real results for yourself. Take a look at Dr. Epstein’s extensive blepharoplasty photo gallery for examples.

From all of us at the Foundation, we wish you a peaceful end to the holiday season and a great start to 2013. For almost 19 years, Dr. Epstein has been committed to bringing patients the most advanced techniques in facial plastic and hair restoration surgery. His focus is not always on the “newest” techniques, but rather those that are proven to be safe, effective, and the best for each patient. Our new doctor, Anthony Bared, MD, holds that same philosophy, being committed to every patients’ best interests.

Drs. Epstein and Bared are proud to bring to you, our valued patient, a variety of “state of the art” treatments and procedures for the coming year to help you look and feel your best:

FUE Hair Transplants- as performed by Dr. Epstein now for over 5 years, the Follicular Unit Extraction technique avoids altogether any linear donor site incision scar. Dr. Epstein now utilizes the Powered SafeScribe® system. Developed by his colleague in Colorado, the SafeScribe® combines the best in human touch with technologic innovation, resulting in the highest possible percentage of hair regrowth.

Cosmetic and Functional Nasal Surgery - whether it is a primary rhinoplasty or one to repair the results from a prior procedure, Dr. Epstein utilizes computer imaging for every patient to create results that his patients feel capture their goals as well as helping to restore/maintain breathing. Now Dr. Bared, a facial plastic surgeon and otolaryngologist like Dr. Epstein, is proud to provide the finest in rhinoplasty. Further, Dr. Bared accepts a variety of medical insurance for septoplasty and septorhinoplasty to improve breathing issues.

The Virtually Instantaneous Hairline Advancement/Forehead Shortening Procedure - a 90 minute procedure that Dr. Epstein has been instrumental in developing that allows women with sufficiently elastic scalps to have their overly high hairline brought forward by as much as 2 inches.

Injectable cosmetic treatments have become a regular beauty routine for a diverse population in recent years. Performed by a plastic surgeon, dermatologist, or in some states an esthetician, these treatments can be tailored to suit an individual’s needs; for this reason, Botox and injectable fillers are great non-invasive cosmetic solutions for women and men alike. While these treatments require maintenance, they are more affordable options than plastic surgery.

I am a 77-year-old woman. I would like to get a facelift but I have several serious health issues. What is the protocol in this situation? Are there some health concerns that would prevent me from getting my facelift? I am most concerned about receiving anesthesia at my age.

Answer:

The Foundation doctors will perform this procedure on people who are in their 70s and, in rare cases, even in their 80s. With that said, each doctor will make their own determination based on the health of each individual patient whether or not they are a safe and healthy candidate for the procedure. Based on your specific medical history, we can be far more exact as to whether or not it makes sense for you personally to proceed with a facelift procedure. In all cases, every patient does have a pre-operative blood test done to ensure everything is in order and, additionally, Dr. Epstein and the other Foundation doctors will regularly request a clearance from your general physician, cardiologist or other doctor based on the health issues and concerns you currently have. If your personal doctor, as well as our doctors, agree that it is safe to move forward we will do so. In some cases it is not possible but in the majority it is.

The upper portion of my face is giving up to gravity and making me look extra tired and older than I am. Would either a brow lift or eyelid surgery fix the sagging or should I have both procedures done at the same time?

Answer:

Certainly a brow lift and eyelid surgery would increase the youthfulness of the upper part of the face. Whether you need one or the other is something we would have to see on examination. If brow ptosis or wrinkling of the forehead is a significant problem, then certainly a brow lift would be an excellent procedure. If you have eyelid skin in excess and lateral hooding caused by this excess skin in the upper eyelids, a blepharoplasty would be an excellent procedure. Both surgeries can be done at the same time and your overall look would be excellent.